US Airways - Los Angeles Culture Guide - (Page 19)

photos courtesy of the natural history museum of los angeles county the institution was stuck. We needed a new way to tell our story. We needed a way to talk about the future." The renovation will affect about 60 percent of all public space, with new exhibits being introduced and old ones dramatically revitalized. A soaring new entryway and an expansive outdoor area will transform the museum's outward appearance, hinting at the monumental changes within. Anyone visiting Los Angeles should begin his or her journey at NHM's Becoming Los Angeles exhibit. Opening on July 14, this 14,000-square-foot permanent show offers a chance for visitors and locals to better understand the real Los Angeles. "Becoming Los Angeles tells the story of how LA was transformed from a funny little outpost on the corner of the Spanish empire into one of the most significant cities in the world," says Dr. Karen Wise, vice president of exhibits and education at NHM. "The story is one of interactions: how the natural environment affected humans and how humans shaped the natural environment. It's a story you'd recognize in its broad strokes, but it's told in a completely new way." The exhibit is dominated by a striking steel canopy that symbolizes the sweep of history. It ushers visitors through the space, touching down at four "trigger points" - glass cases showcasing objects of particular historical importance (including a cross from Mission San Gabriel, a 1902 Tourist automobile, and Charlie Chaplin's Little Tramp costume from the 1931 film City Lights). Also key to the museum's metamorphosis are the new Nature Gardens and Nature Lab, Clockwise from top left: visitors in the Dinosaur Hall; a pink tourmaline, one of 2,000 gems and minerals in the museum's collection; the new glass-enclosed Otis Booth Pavilion; a Charlie Chaplin costume, on view in the upcoming Becoming Los Angeles exhibit ➺ discoverlosangeles.com 19 http://www.discoverlosangeles.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of US Airways - Los Angeles Culture Guide

US Airways - Los Angeles Culture Guide
Contents
Culture Thrives in the City of Angels
Art, Dance, History, Music, Theater: Downtown LA Has it All
Bask in Surrounding Glory
For More Inspiration, Go West
Discover the Next Stage
Rest Assured

US Airways - Los Angeles Culture Guide